Mallikarjun Kharge Directs Provident Fund Organisation to Update All Accounts by December 2011

The first ever review meeting of the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner was held here today under the chairmanship of Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Union Minister of Labour and Employment. Total 120 officers from regional and sub regional offices attended the meeting to review the progress in improving the service delivery to the employee provident fund members.

Speaking on the occasion the Minister said 4.72 crore accounts up to 2008-09 are likely to be updated online by 15.7.2011 to ensure more transparency. He said that the Provident Fund Organisation has been directed to update all accounts by December 2011 and expressed the hope that this will be done as per schedule as this will be one of the major achievements since nearly 14 crore accounts were pending for updation on 1.4.2011 i.e. the beginning of the new financial year. He expressed his happiness that EPFO will now put the account balances of members on website so that any member can check his balances up to the year his account are updated. Considering this as a big achievement he added that most of the members grievances will be resolved once they are able to access their accounts through website.

During the meeting minister also reviewed the position as regard to the settlement of claims. He said that the settlement of claims within 30 days has improved over the previous year. However, his aim is to achieve 100% settlement within 30 days. This claims settlement office-wise has also been put on the website so that everybody can see the position with regard to the settlement of accounts of our 120 offices. Minister underlined that employers can submit their returns and challans electronically, which will speed up the progress of updating of accounts and settlement of claims.